Enclosed is images of a sleeper or barn find that I acquired a fortnight ago and have restored. The gun which is single barrel had a thick coating of rust with moving parts seized and must have come from a out side building or damp attic, the stock which is a hardwood such has ash or sycamore was really dirty has likely at some time had been hung over a sooty chimney .First was to check and see if was loaded it was OK so I removed the lock and furniture next was to remove the heavy rust from the lock with this removed I un covered the makers name ROWNTREE this was the gunmaker who built the first percussion cap sxs shotgun. This gun was original a flintlock and converted to percussion using the drum and nipple principle it was also fitted with a engraved unusual style of hammer which was made to ignite a special type of percussion cap . the barrel plug at the opposite side to the drum and nipple is fitted a vent hole , which was made more so on later percussion guns for quick ignition. The barrel which is standard twist and 36 inches long in 12 bore do not have any proof mark but is in sound condition ,after lapping out the bore it returned a shinny clean bore , this gun would make a shooter , but for me it was saved for the future which could have easily ended up in the furnace
Feltwad
View attachment 83558View attachment 83559View attachment 83560
